Fastest time for OT

[Trackmaster]

Hi new to site long time walker

whats the fastest anyones heard of for doing the OT (with a largish pack)???

[bushrunner]

Roughly 8 hours 30 minutes as far as I know.
Times can probably be found on the Cradle Mountain Ultra Marathon website.
I hope to enter 2011.

EDIT:

Taken from http://www.cradlemtnrun.asn.au/index.ph ... &Itemid=30

The course record is 7 hours 25 min.

[Nuts]

Yer... not with a 'largish pack' though.... they are supported and carry a small pack, water, snax...
Plenty of people have done it overnight carrying the (self supported) appropriate gear.

[Trackmaster]

Yeh 7hrs would be impressive with anything over30L SURELY.....
Still overnight is impressive. 2-3 days in the right conditions is more than just wishfull thinking then??

[tasadam]

As for myself, I wouldn't even try for 3 to 4 days. Too much to see. Tis a long way.

[corvus]

As for myself, I wouldn't even try for 3 to 4 days. Too much to see. Tis a long way.

I am with you tasadam and gees a lot of mony for such a short time eh!!
c

[flyfisher]

Thats my thinking too, I just love being out there, no rush to get through or back.

ff

[Trackmaster]

Thats why I wanted to know how quickly I could do it, hoping to outrun the authorities....

Good point though, how much does it cost these days?? Forgot about the revenue raising "fee"
Probably why the south coast track is FAST developing into an awful place to be.....

[Fizzygood]

They run faster... if you want to walk it, you should pay!

[Trackmaster]

Hehehe got a personal interest there do you???
Going to be less of them around soon (sadly on the serious side) surely there wont be enough bodies out there to notice a couple of "unpaid" walkers... Seriously though for crying out loud the OT must make SOOOOO much money for them how can the GOV justify slashing more bodies????

Just for curious sakes has anyone ever been asked to show a "pass" while walking the OT???

[bushrunner]

Yer... not with a 'largish pack' though.... they are supported and carry a small pack, water, snax...
Plenty of people have done it overnight carrying the (self supported) appropriate gear.

One of the features of this run is that runners are totally unsupported. If you check the required gear list it is reasonably comprehensive. Good enough for an overnighter in decent conditions, though obviously sans sleeping bag and shelter. Most everything else is there though. Warmth, waterproofing, navigation, food, water etc.

Can't wait to enter.

[Son of a Beach]

A fit, fast walker with a full pack can do the Overland Track to Narcissus in 3 days, or 4 days if you want to include a couple of mountains, but that is not recommended, and many (most?) walkers would not be able to make it in that time. So only attempt this is you are sure of your abilities and familiar with Tasmanian bushwalking, and if you want to go hard, and not spend as much time looking around and appreciate what you're walking through.

My first OT walk was 4 days to Pine Valley, and we could have gone to Narcissus and ended the walk in that same time, instead of stopping at Pine Valley. That included a walk up Mt Ossa. We stopped at Cirque Hut (no longer there), Old Pelion Hut (camping no longer permitted), Kia Ora Hut and Pine Valley Hut.

Most walkers take 5 or 6 days, and this is much preferred if you really want to enjoy it. I spent 8 days doing it once, and that is a very pleasant 8 days walking.

[Nuts]

Although it can be done as a fast overnight walk, yer, 4/5 days would still be a fast 'sight-seeing' trip. If just a 'one-off' I would allow a week at least (and take in all the side trips) to get a good feel for the area.

Yer... not with a 'largish pack' though.... they are supported and carry a small pack, water, snax...
Plenty of people have done it overnight carrying the (self supported) appropriate gear.

One of the features of this run is that runners are totally unsupported. If you check the required gear list it is reasonably comprehensive. Good enough for an overnighter in decent conditions, though obviously sans sleeping bag and shelter. Most everything else is there though. Warmth, waterproofing, navigation, food, water etc.

Can't wait to enter.

Yer, I didnt take the question to be about running the track (or in the annual event).. I know people train (outside the event) for the run but as a 'walk' I would consider the same gear and circumstances as 'unsupported' in that you dont have someone expecting you or ready to take you home at Pelion (or go looking for you immediately). Good luck in the race b'runner.

[Fizzygood]

Hehehe got a personal interest there do you???
Going to be less of them around soon (sadly on the serious side) surely there wont be enough bodies out there to notice a couple of "unpaid" walkers... Seriously though for crying out loud the OT must make SOOOOO much money for them how can the GOV justify slashing more bodies????

Just for curious sakes has anyone ever been asked to show a "pass" while walking the OT???

No personal interest beyond the fact that if others have to pay then why shouldn't you? If you want to avoid the fees, walk out of season!

They will ask for your pass and if you don't have it, they will walk you out of the park!

[Trackmaster]

I Never said I wouldnt pay. You should read the posts more carefully, or is your eyesight a bit fuzzy Fizzy??

Still does anyone know where the millions they must make go?? Or does it get hijacked by other departments on the way through? (straight to forestry Tas)

[Son of a Beach]

does anyone know where the millions they must make go?? Or does it get hijacked by other departments on the way through? (straight to forestry Tas)

There's already a topic for this in the 'Controversy Corner' forum. Please feel free to discuss it further there.

[NickD]

I believe that the money is going straight back into the park, problem is, maintainance is a lot more expensive that you'd imagine. Helicopters in Tasmania cost around $2000 an hour, so therefore flying out toilet waste for one hut is going to be a $4000 job (approx). Also board walk is extremely expensive, I can't remember exactly what the cost is per 100 metres of boardwalk, but its in the many thousands of dollars. This goes into supplies, helicopters and on going maintainance.

If anyone has any solid $ figures to back me up, that'd be tops. --- I'm off for 2 months now : ) look after our highlands for me

[Fizzygood]

I Never said I wouldnt pay. You should read the posts more carefully, or is your eyesight a bit fuzzy Fizzy?? ...

Thats why I wanted to know how quickly I could do it, hoping to outrun the authorities....

[Trackmaster]

I guess I should added I take very little seriously...

Sarcasm is lost on some people

[Nuts]

Sarcasm can run a bit thin on some topics TM, especially those that have been covered before .

I have my own thoughts on fees and how appropriate the system is for locals though it does pay to realise that many Other people searching for info on the track will be looking for just such details. Personally I think that the reality now should be conveyed at every opportunity ie:

Yes, there will be hut wardens, track rangers and possibly other staff out there right through the booking period and yes they will turn you back. They will also go as far as escorting you out of the park and enforcing fines if they think it is appropriate.

For visitors to the state, the blow may be cushioned by remembering that these costs are (at least generally and with the usual ponderings about accountability aside) going to a good cause and an appropriate, sustainable 'industry'. In the case of The Overland Track just compare the cost of a week or so in a hostel, fork out the $ and enjoy the views

[ILUVSWTAS]

Something I've wondered is how can they tell the difference between those doing the full length of the OT and those entering VIA side tracks like the Arm river??

[Nuts]

ILSWT, there is no need for a OLT pass if coming in from or leaving that way or for using other parts of the track....

As for knowing who's who, communication between staff ensures that those with such plans dont then end up doing the full track. From what I hear, all the possible excuses have been tried before

I was initially a bit skeptical about the need for the booking system. Perhaps a bit of a shame it was needed, however, in practice just having a staff presence, comfortable clean huts and someone 'flying your turds home for you' is a big improvement on the chaos of the 'good old' days

[Son of a Beach]

Something I've wondered is how can they tell the difference between those doing the full length of the OT and those entering VIA side tracks like the Arm river??

This is an interesting one, and I'm sure they can't always tell the difference, but from personal experience they do appear to try.

The first time I was on the track after the fees came in, my group walked out via Arm River track. At Windermere, a ranger asked to see our OT passes, and I explained that we were not doing the whole Overland Track, but were heading out on the Arm River Track. He appeared to be satisfied with that, and yet I still had an guilt complex for no good reason.

On our way out two days later, about half-way along the Arm River track, we met the same ranger coming back in the other way. He was very friendly, and could obviously see that we were in fact not doing the whole Overland Track. I can't help but wonder if his lightning speed jaunt out the Arm River track and back again was to check to see if we were actually using that track or not.

If he had not met us on the Arm River Track that day, would he then have done another lightning speed walk further south along the OT to see if he'd find us there? I don't know. But I've no intention of ever testing the theory, or breaking the law on this one to find out.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Thats really quite good to hear! And an interesting story! No doubt if it was in the early stages of requiring passes to walk the OT the ranger probably was trying to check up on you. And good on him for doing so! Probably wouldnt happen these days!

I plan on a trip in to Pelion before it's overrun with OT'ers! So was interested to hear anyones thoughts.

On a college trip many years ago into the walls, Our teacher (Geoff Batton, who was a sensational teacher of not only everything outdoors but also in life) seperated us into 4 groups and sent us off on 4 different routes all planning to meet up at the end of the day atop Mt Jerusalem. We all questioned later how did you know we wernt wandering off into the never never Geoff?? He said he was running from hill to hill keeping an eye on us all. We all laughed not believing it at the time, these days I actually dont doubt it at all, A very fit man he was, and probably still is!
Also considering at the time it took most of the groups all day to get there and I could probably now do the same route in a few hrs.

[tomberli]

Something I've wondered is how can they tell the difference between those doing the full length of the OT and those entering VIA side tracks like the Arm river??

Having worked out on the Overland track over the last three year I know pretty much all the rangers and their stories personally and they regularly send people back. they know all the stories of 'just having come in' or 'just heading out' the Arm River well enough and a few questions about the track and how they got there or how they arranged transport to get out will usually give away if people are honest about it or not.

They are all in regular contact with both ends of the track over SatPhone and if someone does not have a pass or refuses to turn around they will organise make sure that someone will come and pick you up - and these guys know the track pretty well and could probably quite easily outrun most of us.

Anyway, if you dont wanna pay for it, why play hide and seek and cause people lots of trouble? Because catching people is definitely the least favourite job of the rangers. So just walk it in off season or go to the walls instead - much quieter anyway!

Just for curious sakes has anyone ever been asked to show a "pass" while walking the OT???

Depends on the ranger, but they are required to check these days. In fact they all carry a list of who is and who isn't supposed to be on the track and when they started. Doesn't matter if you are ahead or behind schedule. So they usually tick you off when you passed - that way they also know that everyone got from A to B safely. this season there will only be two out there at any given time but last year you would quite likely bump into three rangers and get ticked of three times. They then have a fair idea of where people are and if someone didn't get to the hut they as expected (things like camping down at Frog Flats when you don't make it to Pelion). More for the safety of walkers rather than for checking up on people as I get the perception that the majority of the people out there in summer have never done anything similar before.

[johnw]

...In fact they all carry a list of who is and who isn't supposed to be on the track and when they started. Doesn't matter if you are ahead or behind schedule. So they usually tick you off when you passed...

Yes, that was my experience (Dec-Jan 07/08). Checked off at Waterfall Valley and New Pelion, nothing after that. Confused the ranger at NP when we turned up a day earlier than he expected. Never asked to show my pass though. Quite a few people were coming in via Arm River and it didn't seem to cause any problems, although I don't know what their destination was. Also a couple we met at WFV were doing the circuit via L Rodway then OLT back to Cradle. Ranger there told them no problem.

[tomberli]

yeah thats the thing - noone is trying to limit where you can walk or what you can do. if you wanna just come in an climb Mount Ossa or Oakleight via the Arm river, that's totally fine. the system isn't supposed to discourage any of that. but the absolute vast majority of walker - particularly in summer - are overseas and interstate visitors who just came to do the overland track and their numbers were getting so high that they had to bring in some sort of booking system. Its quite funny actually because the only Tasmanians I meet out there these days either work there or have come in on a quick overnight stint to climb one of the mountains or so. Very few actually walk just from Cradle to St. Clair.
What annoys me though is that they have had record booking for the track in recent years and manage to cut staff and services. Recession or not, but people are paying good money to walk the track and should get what they pay for!

[stillfitenough]

The runners that do the OLT on the first Saturday of February have to be self supporting with a set amount of equipment including 2000 Kilajules of food in reserve. The sweeps that follow up the last runner/walker are there for safety reasons.
How long would it take somebody with a 30Kg pack?? Well how long is a piece of string, fitness, weather, equipment all come into it. I have run it and didnt see a *&%$#! thing except where my next step was going to be but it was a personal goal. Walked it, took our time and really enjoyed it. Eight hours with 30Kg- tell him he's dreaming!!

[flyfisher]

Eight hours with 30Kg- tell him he's dreaming!!

Was that 3okg or 30l?

ff